tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19892961802991810582024-03-13T06:10:11.898-07:00There is No Higher Calling"There is NO higher calling in life than raising the children God has entrusted to our care." This blogspot chronicles the life and times of my amazing family, my relationship with Jesus Christ, and adoption advocacy, which is my passion.Ann McKinneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09801174016185311867noreply@blogger.comBlogger100125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1989296180299181058.post-30025046208989426242018-03-14T20:55:00.000-07:002018-03-14T21:00:10.595-07:00This season I am in..... It has been so long since I updated this blog, that I am not even sure where to begin. But I kinda feel that instead of doing a "catch-up" post, I need to just vent. <br />
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Today God has struck me hard. In a good way, but also in a soul-wrenching way. <br />
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I have been busy. So very busy. We did adopt Teddy, brought him home in January. It has been a very good thing. Such a good thing! But we have also been in a season of struggle. Struggling with Daley, who has been battling a very serious MRSA infection since November. Struggling with Brittany, who left home, has gotten involved in some very dangerous things, and has removed McKinney from her name. Struggling as Brogan continues to denounce Christ, and all that we as a family stand for. Struggling with finding a church family. And then of course there are the normal struggles.....the boys and porn (I hate the internet for this reason), one kiddo who is stealing, sibling jealousy, financial struggles, finding enough hours in the day, and on and on.<br />
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Through this season of struggle, I have kinda gotten lost from God. I didn't mean to, it just kinda happened. Not finding or making the time for a good prayer life, or even reading the Bible as I should. I know it is wrong, and I have known it is wrong for a while, but things are just fuzzy right now, and I just cannot get it all sorted out.<br />
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And then this week happened. It has been crazy. Here are the highlights, in order of when they happened.<br />
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1. Thursday Mengs Bday! She wants to go to the Chinese buffet, which we all love, but it is SO expensive! And then a couple that Dale has helped with medical issues stops by to "pay" Dale by giving us a $100 Visa gift card. Totally unnecessary and unexpected. This pays for most of the birthday dinner!!!<br />
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2. Friday. Keagan, Brianna, and Toby went to the Dollar Tree to get snacks for a youth trip. A friend I haven't seen in quite a while saw them, and paid for all of their snacks! Im not even sure how she recognized them! I love it when others show my kids generosity and random kindness!<br />
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3. Sunday A sweet old friend from church told me he is paying for all of my kids to go to church camp. That is a LOT of money!<br />
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4. Monday The twins Bday! They want to go to Chuck E Cheese! Fun yes, expensive, Oh yes!<br />
And two checks we were waiting for both happen to come in the mail that afternoon. And then my sweet, wonderful dad kicks in $40 toward the bill. Boom. Chuck E Cheese is paid for. And they say it was the best day of their life!<br />
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5. Tuesday Toby's birthday. It starts with an anonymous teacher leaving him a box of donuts on his locker, with a note for him that read "Do Nut forget Jesus Loves You". Made me cry! Then he wants to go the Cheddars. We all know the drill, keep it under $10 and we all drink water. And then a sweet old lady comes to tell us God asked her husband to pay for our meal and she gives Dale $100. Insane. Again, most of the meal paid for.<br />
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6. And the best happened today. Daley went in for her 12th surgery, the 4th one related to this awful MRSA infection. The infection was in some hardware in her neck, that was there for a seizure control device. Removing the hardware is dangerous, especially because it has been in so long. There was a risk of losing her vocal chords, damaging her esophagus, or puncturing her coratid artery. And if the hardware cannot be removed, the infection will be there forever. The surgery went "picture perfect", all hardware removed, no sign of infection, and we even got to come home same day, which we did not think was even a remote possibility! And she has smiled all evening.....no pain!<br />
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I am not telling you these things to brag. I am telling you these things so that you will SEE. Even though I have pushed God to the backseat, and basically have been coasting along spiritually, He has not quit blessing me! He is reaching out to ME through these events and special people! He still loves me, still cares for me and still wants to bless me despite my coldness! Why? Why would He? There are so many people so much more deserving? But then I remember what He did for me on the cross. I could certainly never deserve that either. It's grace. Unexplainable, sometimes hard to believe and accept, but pure grace. And second chances. Billions of second chances. And I will probably use most of those second chances. I am just so totally overwhelmed by this week, and all that God has done to pull me back into His arms. He is just so good.<br />
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Lord, you are SO good to me. I do not deserve it. I can never do for you all that you have done for me, but please help me try. Show me your heart with my eyes. Let me be your hands to my hurting world. Remind me, like you have this week, that you are always there, and want to be a daddy who takes care of His children. Forgive my foolishness. Help me stay focused on You and Your will. <br />
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God bless you my friends! Updates on the kids soon!Ann McKinneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09801174016185311867noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1989296180299181058.post-76982784832578204872017-06-27T20:30:00.000-07:002017-06-27T20:30:09.758-07:00Summer!Hello friends! It's SUMMER! I love catching a break from homework, school, sports, and early bedtimes! Unlike a lot of moms, I LOVE having my kiddos home with me! I just wish summer could be longer!<br />
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Bronwyn graduated this past May! So proud of her, she graduated with honors, and 2 years early! She is spending her summer working at Cracker Barrel, and is going to RCC this fall. She wants to be a pharmacist. She is highly motivated and is very studious, I am sure she can do it! She is meeting her birthmother for the first time in just a few weeks! EEK~ No worries, it will be good! <3 p=""><br />
Keagan, Britt and Brianna will all be seniors this fall! Wow, that will be an expensive year! LOL Keagan is detailing this summer, Britt is looking for a job, and Brianna is waitressing at SteakNShake. But mostly they are just chillin! And the girls are working on getting their drivers licenses. <br />
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Toby, Meng, Miles, and Rory are at Camp Coco this week! They are all having a great summer, and are glad to have a break from school! Toby will be a freshman, Miles 8th, and Meng and Rory 6th. Meng and Miles are doing fairly well health-wise. Miles had a bad break to his arm this spring, which required surgery, but he handled it SO well! He is very brave and endures a lot.<br />
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Daley has become princess GIGGLES! She is happy ALL of the time, even when she has reasons to be grumpy! We have prayed for her healing for so long, but her happiness and joy is just as important to us as her healing! Thank you Lord, for giving her such holy joy!<br />
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Wen and Wu.....well they are as affectionate, sweet, and silly as ever! They still aren't growing much, but they will be starting Kindergarten in the fall. Im not sure Im ready for them to be gone every day, all day! I may have to spend some volunteer hours in their classroom!!!<br />
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Ok, and now important news.....Miles was granted a Make-a-Wish, so this past month we (yes, all 13 of us) went to DISNEY!!! We had such an amazing time.....we did Magic Kingdom, Animal Kingdom, Sea World, Lego Land, Universal, and Hollywood. We were completely exhausted by the end of the week, but it was such an amazing blessing! Miles had a blast, and somehow....this boy who cannot tolerate long car rides without puking.....managed to ride almost every single roller coaster with no problem! :)<br />
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Other news??? Well. we are praying about moving forward with adopting my Teddy boy. I can't get him off of my mind. I love that little guy, and he sits waiting for a family, waiting for some medical care that he can only get here in the US. Waiting to be loved and wanted. And here we sit, knowing that even though it would be crazy....we can totally give him what he needs. So, we are inching forward. Please pray for us. And I will keep you posted! :)<br />
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Ok, and here are some photos of my sweet kiddos! I hope these smiling faces bless you as much as they do me!<br />
God bless!!!<br />
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<br /></3>Ann McKinneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09801174016185311867noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1989296180299181058.post-51714212276982148832017-03-11T20:12:00.001-08:002017-03-11T20:21:23.680-08:00So Blessed! Last Saturday night there was a Natalie Grant/Charlotte Gambill concert in Decatur. It was a special concert event called "Dare To Be". A few days before the show, my girls asked me if I would take them. I will be very honest here.....I did not want to. I had a very busy week, and I was tired. Given the choice of staying home and chillin with my family, or spending the evening with 600 women, and I would most certainly choose chillin! LOL So, I told them I really did not want to go.<br />
A few days later, my sister asked me to go. She had some extra tickets. I told her the same thing, but I did promise I would think about it. And then my friend Michelle asked me to go. I was thinking, "What is going on with these people!" LOL Anyway, I finally reluctantly agreed to go.<br />
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The day of the concert, I really didn't want to go again! I kinda whined all day about it. Poor Keagan got to hear the bulk of my whining! But I went.<br />
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The concert was really good. Natalie Grant has a wonderful voice, and Charlotte is am amazing speaker, with such a cute British accent! I was encouraged and uplifted by the praise music, and it was good to be with my girls and my sister. Even my mom came! And my mother-in-law and grandmother-in-law! I was surprised at how many friends were there! Hmmmm......<br />
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After intermission, another part of the concert began. They talked about how every show, they choose to honor someone from the community. They began talking about a woman who had two biological children, and then adopted several children. They began to talk about special needs children, and the trips to China. I was pretty shocked that this woman was living in our community, and I did not know her! I feel like I know most of the adoption mommas in our area, especially the ones who have adopted from China. And then they began talking about this woman adopting a daughter with Cerebral Palsy and a son with sickle cell......and it hit me.......I think they were talking about ME! I looked around, and everyone was looking at ME! Everyone was smiling, some were crying! I was completely and totally overwhelmed! I literally had NO IDEA! NONE! NOT A HINT! I still cannot believe that my family and friends pulled this one over on me! WOW!<br />
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I was called up onto the stage, and these two ladies kept on praising me, and it was SO awkward! I hate attention being called onto me! I didn't know whether to cry, or laugh, or try to escape back to my seat! LOL They gave me a beautiful bouquet of flowers, and a basket full of their books, DVDs, and other merchandise. I hoped then I could escape back to my chair! But there was more. They mentioned all of our hospital trips, out of town and out of state, and they presented me with a $500 GAS CARD! And there was MORE!~ Then, they said they wanted to bless me further, and they told me that my mortgage WAS PAID FOR THE REMAINDER OF THE YEAR!!!!! I am totally serious! Again, I wanted to cry, laugh, and run back to my chair! It was this weird mixture of feeling excited, embarrassed, honored, overwhelmed, scared, thankful, and I don't even know what else! But most of all BLESSED,<br />
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<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-eHt-x2HljpE/WMTKvA1iorI/AAAAAAAABMU/4Hffq6jfnNQjvPi65jm9pylk-wiOQoGmQCLcB/s1600/images.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-eHt-x2HljpE/WMTKvA1iorI/AAAAAAAABMU/4Hffq6jfnNQjvPi65jm9pylk-wiOQoGmQCLcB/s1600/images.jpeg" /></a> I am not special. I don't deserve this special blessing. I am a momma whom God has called to mother a few orphans. I have tried my best to answer that call. Some days I love this calling, other days it makes me crazy! But I don't ever want to stand before our Lord one day, and for Him to not be pleased with me. When He moves on my heart, I want to take action. Thats all. <br />
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So, here we are! <br />
We can breathe a little easier around here right now, because of this blessing. Our finances have been stretched and then stretched some more, mainly just due to the size and financial responsibilities of parenting the 11 children still at home. This blessing is allowing us to pay off some debt, which will help our monthly budget immensely. This blessing is allowing us to get caught up a bit, and to be able to build back up our emergency savings. We are so blessed by this gift, and I simply do not know how to thank everyone who was involved.<br />
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So, from my heart, THANK YOU! From my family's hearts, THANK YOU. And I would ask that instead of just thinking about what a "great person" I am, you please consider what can YOU do for God! Is He calling you to adopt? The need is so huge....the orphan crisis is SO big! God wants His children in families! Are YOU that family? PLEASE, pray about it! And if you need guidance, encouragement, or a little "push", please let me know! It would be my honor, to let this blessing bless others!<3 p=""></3><br />
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<br />Ann McKinneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09801174016185311867noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1989296180299181058.post-73925839973651660412017-02-25T20:51:00.000-08:002017-02-25T20:51:15.665-08:00Another Goodbye............. Bryson AKA Ronan is leaving tomorrow. Going back home with his birth mom. So here I am, once again, saying goodbye to this sweet boy that I love. First time when he was a month old, and now, at almost 11.<br />
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Bryson is hard. Bryson has severe autism. He doesn't like noise. He doesn't like busyness. He doesn't like little kids who annoy him. He eats only a few types of food. He hates school. He doesn't accept authority from men, including Dale. My household has been in chaos these past few months, as we all try to adjust to him, and allow him to adjust to us. There have been some very, very difficult times. But there have been a lot of really awesome times!<br />
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Bryson is fascinated with old cars. He can tell you the make, model, and year of almost every car he sees. He can draw logos from memory, and he is really good at it. He loves to collect rocks and will spend hours admiring their beauty. Bryson doesn't smile much, but when he does, it is priceless! Bryson loves animals. Bryson loves clouds, and can tell you the names of the different ones. Bryson is unique, and that is refreshing! He is fiercely loyal to Rory, even when Rory is being a brat to him. <br />
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I have asked his birthmother if we can kind of "co-parent". She can keep him during the week, and I can pick him up and keep him on the weekends. Hoping we can have him over the summer, and can even take him on vacation with us. She agreed, and I pray she does allow these things. No matter how hard he has been for us, we love him, and want to continue a relationship with him. He is very special to me!<br />
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Lord, please help our hearts tonight, as we prepared to let Bryson go again. It is not any easier this time than it was last time. Lord, please protect him, grow him, and let him know in his little heart how much we love him. Let him know he is smart, and special. Please let us see him again, often, and let our relationship grow and grow. Thank you for the time we have had with Bryson. The good and the bad. Please help us mostly remember the good. <br />
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In your sweet name, Amen.<br />
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<br />Ann McKinneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09801174016185311867noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1989296180299181058.post-37962975822891967912017-02-09T21:09:00.000-08:002017-02-09T21:09:00.091-08:00Daley Faith I love this girl, Daley. She is my peace. She calms my storm. She loves me when I'm grouchy, she loves me when I'm down. She never argues with me. She never wants more from me than to simply love her. She smiles just when I need it most. She snuggles into me when I am sad and lonely. I truly feel close to God when I am close to her. I simply cannot imagine my life without her. She was one of the best decisions our family has ever made.<br />
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It wasn't always like this. When she was born, she was SO difficult. She cried most of the time she was awake. She rarely slept more than an hour or two at night. The first few years with her are a blur of exhaustion and frustration. A very wise doctor told me she suffered from "neurological irritability", and that it would settle down by the time she turned 3. It took a little longer than that, but she rarely cries now, and she is very content. This peaceful nature she has now was worth every sleepless night.<br />
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My sweet Daley-girl has been really sick. In December, she got a virus, and it almost took her life. She was in the PICU for a week. And this past week she has been very sick again. Several times all of her vitals have crashed, and caused absolute panic in my heart. It has forced me to stop and consider how fragile her life is. And it made me have such mixed feelings. I cannot stand the thought of losing her. But I know that when she see Jesus, she will be able to run to Him, speak to Him, stand straight and hold her head high.....all things she has never been able to do. I cannot wait for her to taste and enjoy food, to get grass stain on her little jeans. To actually wear out her clothes! Because I know Jesus, and I believe His Word, I know that when she meets him, she will leave her broken body behind. She wont need the VP shunt, the Vagal Nerve Stimulator, the feeding tube, the SP tube. She wont need her back brace or her leg braces. Her wheelchair, her bath chair. These things will not be needed, because she will be made perfect and whole! I will be so happy for her! But so broken for me.<br />
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Please pray for me. This is hard. When she was little, I used to have 2 very different dreams over and over. The first was an amazing dream. I would wake up in the morning, to her standing at her crib, calling my name in a beautiful, clear voice. A MIRACLE! Can you only imagine the countless people who would come to serve the Lord after seeing such a miracle??? The second dream was when I would wake up to find that she had passed in her sleep. And here I am, caught in the middle of these two dreams. <br />
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I love this girl. She has changed my heart forever. She has made me a better person, a better mom, a better servant. <br />
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God bless you friends. Hug your kids!<span id="goog_1456611765"></span><span id="goog_1456611766"></span><br />
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<br />Ann McKinneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09801174016185311867noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1989296180299181058.post-68953640365472190762016-12-10T21:15:00.003-08:002016-12-10T21:27:54.733-08:00Merry Christmas from us! 2016<div style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: 18px;">
<span style="font-size: 49px;"><span style="color: #565656;"> </span><span style="color: red;"><u><b>MCKINNEY </b></u></span></span><br />
<span style="color: red;"><b> <u>2016 CHRISTMAS!</u></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">Well another year has come and almost gone! We are excited to celebrate the birth of our King, Jesus Christ </span><span style="font-size: small;">again this year! We have had a crazy busy year, as usual. Lots of basketball games, homework, church </span><span style="font-size: small;">activities, and family time.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">• Big news of the year, is that we have added new members to our family AGAIN! Miles, age 14, joined our </span><span style="font-size: small;">family in April, after his adoption was completed in China. And Bryson, age 10, came to stay with us in </span><span style="font-size: small;">October. Many of you may remember Bryson as “Ronan”……Rory’s twin brother!!! How exciting to have </span><span style="font-size: small;">the boys back together again!!! We don’t know how long he will be with us, but we are SO glad he is here!</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;">• Dale is employed at HSHS St. Johns, and is working in trauma surgery, which he loves. He plans to return </span><span style="font-size: small;">to Kenya on a medical mission trip in July, as well as lead our family on a mission trip to Haiti in April. Ann </span><span style="font-size: small;">is working hard to balance life with 15 kids and still hoping to find time to write that book that is in her head! </span><span style="font-size: small;">She recently joined the board of directors for In His Hands Orphan Outreach, and is the program director for </span><span style="font-size: small;">a new orphanage in China, THRIVE Harbor, for orphans with Thalassemia and other blood diseases.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;">• Brogan, Zachary and Landon are now residing in Minnesota. Brogan is an agent with Homeland Security </span><span style="font-size: small;">and Zachary is a police officer. Landon is now FOUR years old! We were blessed to have him for a visit </span><span style="font-size: small;">over Thanksgiving. They need to move CLOSER!!!</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;">• Patrick is a welder/pipefitter, and is currently working for FEMA in South Carolina. He needs to hurry up </span><span style="font-size: small;">and marry his GF, Emmy, so she will be an official member of the family! (hint hint) Miss them both!</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;">• Keagan is now a Jr. and is enjoying playing basketball for Decatur Christian. And he is DRIVING!</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;">• Brittany is also a Jr. at DCS, and enjoys playing guitar and drawing. She is our fashionista!</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-XCiBNCn_A8s/WEzfCrzeV9I/AAAAAAAABHM/yrgPgFxvJn0TjorJR4ET7SsfJhvZazpDACLcB/s1600/12439186_10156760307585068_3565138692560067933_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-XCiBNCn_A8s/WEzfCrzeV9I/AAAAAAAABHM/yrgPgFxvJn0TjorJR4ET7SsfJhvZazpDACLcB/s200/12439186_10156760307585068_3565138692560067933_n.jpg" width="112" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">"Percy"</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: small;">• Brianna is also a Jr. at DCS (yes we have 3!). She is our volleyball player and board game champion!</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;">•Bronwyn is our only Sr., and will be graduating in May from DCS. She plans to go to </span><span style="font-size: small;">RCC to study early education. She is loving her last year of basketball.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;">•Brian is doing well at Hoyleton, the residential facility where he is living. We are </span><span style="font-size: small;">blessed to get to visit him twice a month. He is now well over 6 foot and growing!</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;">•Toby is an 8th grader,, and spends lots of time playing basketball for DCS and ice </span><span style="font-size: small;">skating. His latest passion is building tasers. EEK</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;">•Miles, Rory, and Meng are ALL in the 5th grade at DCS. Miles is quite excited to </span><span style="font-size: small;">experience his first Christmas, and also accepted Christ this past year! Rory had the </span><span style="font-size: small;">amazing experience of going to Nubability sports camp this summer, where he met </span><span style="font-size: small;">many kids with hand differences and was able to train with professional athletes. Meng </span><span style="font-size: small;">was blessed to be chosen as a 2017 poster girl for St. Jude, so she is pretty excited </span><span style="font-size: small;">about that!!! Bryson is also in 5th grade at Franklin Elementary, where he is loving art class and lunch! He is slowly getting used to the idea of having SO many siblings! He keeps us entertained with his funny faces!</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;">•Daley, the “Princess of the Castle Norwood”, is doing very well. Sleeping so much</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">better, happier, and growing like crazy! And, of course, still very spoiled! She is and</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">always will be the sunshine of the family!</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;">• And that brings me to Wen and Wu. These little guys have turned our family upside down with their </span><span style="font-size: small;">cuteness and their craziness! They are certainly not shy, and know how to charm! BEST DECISION EVER!</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-vXF0rIg2C0Q/WEzfCfZaHLI/AAAAAAAABHQ/E8_pkCOWnz0X1hwSgUY5JBd2Ehg-3pTVACLcB/s1600/13320335_10156974729795068_259389760429285593_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-vXF0rIg2C0Q/WEzfCfZaHLI/AAAAAAAABHQ/E8_pkCOWnz0X1hwSgUY5JBd2Ehg-3pTVACLcB/s320/13320335_10156974729795068_259389760429285593_o.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Toby!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-0iVV1_X7w_I/WEzfCV9J5bI/AAAAAAAABHI/J0UZfg3ix-EeXouZDSPNy-ee9CfPbrNQQCLcB/s1600/14947413_10157700242985068_4102228020229967962_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-0iVV1_X7w_I/WEzfCV9J5bI/AAAAAAAABHI/J0UZfg3ix-EeXouZDSPNy-ee9CfPbrNQQCLcB/s320/14947413_10157700242985068_4102228020229967962_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Rory and Bryson</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-GOK-VRyu9_8/WEzfCk1v6-I/AAAAAAAABHU/Lu2Nq40cEXIyKD0aWsKUESSGtkgCjd8TQCLcB/s1600/15171054_10209347916267166_8453985849196899836_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-GOK-VRyu9_8/WEzfCk1v6-I/AAAAAAAABHU/Lu2Nq40cEXIyKD0aWsKUESSGtkgCjd8TQCLcB/s320/15171054_10209347916267166_8453985849196899836_n.jpg" width="213" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bronwyn's Sr photo</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-_62LlgWOvAw/WEzfEqtucXI/AAAAAAAABHc/yTLUWD5rTmoruJj5vmLucxkVvC1xSDYLgCLcB/s1600/IMG_0260.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-_62LlgWOvAw/WEzfEqtucXI/AAAAAAAABHc/yTLUWD5rTmoruJj5vmLucxkVvC1xSDYLgCLcB/s400/IMG_0260.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">First Day of School</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ltykDP5ylxY/WEzfDmafklI/AAAAAAAABHY/EbPNc-2CiL8oNtcN45pErSSAU4iKedEtQCLcB/s1600/IMG_0707.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ltykDP5ylxY/WEzfDmafklI/AAAAAAAABHY/EbPNc-2CiL8oNtcN45pErSSAU4iKedEtQCLcB/s320/IMG_0707.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Introducing Mr. Miles McKinney!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_AP8SqwXuU4/WEzfKtNqRTI/AAAAAAAABHs/UwCOIp_BJyI8bdfstQgCs3p1_50gmWdsACLcB/s1600/IMG_1114.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" border="0" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_AP8SqwXuU4/WEzfKtNqRTI/AAAAAAAABHs/UwCOIp_BJyI8bdfstQgCs3p1_50gmWdsACLcB/s320/IMG_1114.jpg" title="" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bible Quizzing Medals!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-9idOkMDYlBc/WEzfHov0kWI/AAAAAAAABHk/Kp-m7DVn9Wc2U9FEdTPvkAuuQF6uirKKwCLcB/s1600/IMG_1199.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-9idOkMDYlBc/WEzfHov0kWI/AAAAAAAABHk/Kp-m7DVn9Wc2U9FEdTPvkAuuQF6uirKKwCLcB/s320/IMG_1199.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Brian and Britt</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-rRjemm51mZM/WEzfHVhABGI/AAAAAAAABHg/OXdsz00PuXoKDIqRDyijCsJNjTjOrb-FgCLcB/s1600/IMG_1461.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-rRjemm51mZM/WEzfHVhABGI/AAAAAAAABHg/OXdsz00PuXoKDIqRDyijCsJNjTjOrb-FgCLcB/s320/IMG_1461.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Meng and Miles transfusion day!</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-QBW02XIj6aE/WEzfI2xnf_I/AAAAAAAABHo/B8hbJzyLtvsRfzXv98L4AbItZXirOQ39gCLcB/s1600/IMG_1513.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-QBW02XIj6aE/WEzfI2xnf_I/AAAAAAAABHo/B8hbJzyLtvsRfzXv98L4AbItZXirOQ39gCLcB/s320/IMG_1513.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Rory and the One-Legged Ninja Warrior, Zach Gowen</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-uVf-CT4dQL8/WEzfLcTu-TI/AAAAAAAABHw/Q4BGjLKTm64BgmK6jIdMH5TCESPTs2xjwCLcB/s1600/IMG_1567.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-uVf-CT4dQL8/WEzfLcTu-TI/AAAAAAAABHw/Q4BGjLKTm64BgmK6jIdMH5TCESPTs2xjwCLcB/s320/IMG_1567.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Daley Faith</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-19uQnTzDpLc/WEzfMsh-q6I/AAAAAAAABH0/xeGBzMNtNqEBVaAn4WgKZbpbgvJqCRzMQCLcB/s1600/IMG_1657.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-19uQnTzDpLc/WEzfMsh-q6I/AAAAAAAABH0/xeGBzMNtNqEBVaAn4WgKZbpbgvJqCRzMQCLcB/s320/IMG_1657.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Landon with Grandpa Dale</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-VavGF-dy620/WEzfPoGO0iI/AAAAAAAABH8/cS3IX3ERXJsb7WqquY0Bt0L6SDx6gs8pQCLcB/s1600/IMG_1711.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-VavGF-dy620/WEzfPoGO0iI/AAAAAAAABH8/cS3IX3ERXJsb7WqquY0Bt0L6SDx6gs8pQCLcB/s320/IMG_1711.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Wen and Wu AKA Cecil and Ervin</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-WRfyNDjb5GI/WEzfOBbXZfI/AAAAAAAABH4/PLlXpSQwbUMbX16MIYC9Euq7IAUH3tgwwCLcB/s1600/IMG_3230.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-WRfyNDjb5GI/WEzfOBbXZfI/AAAAAAAABH4/PLlXpSQwbUMbX16MIYC9Euq7IAUH3tgwwCLcB/s400/IMG_3230.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The McKinney family (without Bryson or Miles)</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">McKinney teens</td></tr>
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• As always, we strive to be the hands and feet of Jesus! We pray blessings on your family this Christmas,</div>
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and we thank God for blessing us! And once last thing……<span style="color: red;">Is God Calling YOU to Adopt? 163 million orphans are praying for a forever family! Could that be you? GOD BLESS!!!</span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">What to call this??? LOL</td></tr>
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Ann McKinneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09801174016185311867noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1989296180299181058.post-62813943225980632942016-11-06T21:36:00.000-08:002016-11-06T21:38:33.135-08:00And.....10 years later! Ok, are you ready for a crazy story? Here it is! 10 1/2 years ago, we were chosen to adopt twin baby boys. We were SO excited! But when they were born, everything went a little wonky. You see, Rory was born with birth defects of his hands and arms, and Ronan was born "normal". Their birth mother had a very hard time deciding if she wanted to parent them or place them. She asked for more time to make a decision. We had the option of taking them home while she decided, or placing them in foster care. We took them home!<br />
<br />
About a month later, we got "the call". The twins birth mother had decided to allow us to adopt Rory, but wanted to parent Ronan. This was SO hard. Separating twins was almost unthinkable to us, and we were devastated. But we had no option. Dale and Patrick took Ronan back to his town, and I stayed home with the rest of the kids and bawled like a baby. For days. Ok, actually weeks. Probably much longer. <br />
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For years, we prayed every night that Ronan would return to us, if that was God's will. Or that we would at least be able to have some sort of relationship with him. We were able to see him occasionally, once when he was 1 year old, and then again at 4 and 8. Birthmom had changed his name to Bryson, and he was diagnosed as being autistic. Bryson had a disability just like Rory, but Bryson's was not visible like Rory's was. Such a weird twist in the story.<br />
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As time went on, we lost hope of Ronan/Bryson ever returning to us. We even kinda lost hope of having a relationship with him, since we never seemed to be able to schedule visits. And then, I got a crazy phone call.<br />
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Completely out of the blue, the twin's birth mom called me. She was upset, and said she needed help. She asked if we would consider taking Bryson!!! She didn't know if it was for 6 months, a year, or forever, but she needed us to take him. I simply cannot believe that after 10 years, we were given this opportunity!!!! God is so good, and He must continually chuckle over my lack of faith!<br />
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So, we went to his home, and brought him back to ours. The first few days were very hard. Remember, he doesn't know us! Every single thing in his world is different! He and Rory don't even<br />
know each other! And he is used to a quiet, boring home (mine is anything but quiet or boring!). Even the foods we eat are different. The rules are different. Culture shock for all of us! LOL<br />
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Every single day that Bryson is with us, it gets easier. He is a very loving, affectionate child. He is learning how to cope with all of us, and we are falling in love with him. He and Rory are so similar it is freaky. They make the same faces. They both hate shoes. They both love steak and cheeseburgers. They have the exact same body build, and the same sweet lips! <br />
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We have no idea how long he will be with us. But we are enjoying he while he is here, and praying that we will be able to have a forever relationship with him, no matter where he lives.<br />
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Friends, when you pray for something, and God doesn't answer you, it may be that the timing is just not right. But don't stop. If it is on your heart, keep praying. I am in awe of God answering my prayer for Bryson. I am in awe that my twins are together again! God is good!!!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-jwFtSj4YHl8/WCAR700d_zI/AAAAAAAABGc/mF__GqAQqVQ3sIhHmCgONTS9d9rKG4xEQCEw/s1600/IMG_1182.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-jwFtSj4YHl8/WCAR700d_zI/AAAAAAAABGc/mF__GqAQqVQ3sIhHmCgONTS9d9rKG4xEQCEw/s1600/IMG_1182.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Rory and Bryson the day he left us.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">JoJo, Rory and Bryson, the day he returned!</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Rory and Bryson on their 7th birthday</td></tr>
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Ann McKinneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09801174016185311867noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1989296180299181058.post-77506879780710368182016-09-25T21:29:00.000-07:002017-03-11T20:24:38.346-08:00I have returned!Well, I am sure you thought I had fallen off of the face of the earth, and well, maybe I kinda did for a bit! My life has been crazy busy, so many changes, some happiness, some sorrow, but mostly just busy, busy, busy!<br />
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Here are some highlights: We traveled to China in March, and met our new son Miles Xin Dai! I have to say that about a month before we left to get him, I began to panic. We were bringing home a 13 year old boy!!! What if he was a jerk? What if he didn't want to be adopted? What if he was mean? But God took care of all of that. The minute we met him, we knew he was awesome! But also very sick. He passed out many times in China, and we could tell his health was very poor. Since he has been home, he has had several surgeries, and many infections. Hospitalized many times. But a very happy, well-adjusted kid. And very smart! He is a keeper! And now that he has been home, and has settled in, the sibling rivalry has begun......so I am spending a lot of time listening to tattles and arguments with Rory, Meng and Miles, who are all in the same class at school. But it is all good....it just means he is fitting in! LOL<br />
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Our church. Wow, I am not even sure where to begin. We hired a new pastor last year. Well, this pastor decided that he needed to replace the current staff. So, he fired our youth pastor, children's pastor, music minister, janitor, and bookkeeper. He brought in all of his friends to fill these positions, even hired an administrative pastor (which we have never had before), and then hired this new pastor's wife! Now, we are told that this is common in the Nazarene church, but this was devastating to us. Even worse, is that he was not truthful about how things happened, and tried to make the church think that these friends were all "called" somewhere else, when the real truth is they were fired. It rocked us, really hard. If we as Christians cannot get along, and work together for the common goal of saving souls, then what the heck???? So, after lots of prayer, anger, tears, and sleepless nights, we left our church. We left our friends, our ministries, and our dreams of our future there. We followed the children's pastor, Justin, to his new church on the other side of town. I cannot tell you how hard this was for all of us. We love Justin and his family very much. But we went from a church of 800 to a church of 45. We went from an active, healthy youth group, to no youth group. From amazing praise and worship to hymns. It was/is so hard. But God is using us there. We have started a youth group. An on-fire youth group! There was already an amazing team of folks who lead a children's Bible quizzing team, which is awesome. D1Naz quit doing Bible quizzing several years ago, and we have missed it Dale and Britt are helping with the music ministry, and it is slowly becoming more modern and upbeat. The people are so warm and friendly. Any group of folks who can accept my crazy family have to be good people! And they did, with no hesitation. So.....here we are, helping God grow Trinity Church of the Nazarene. It still feels weird, but each week it feels more like home. But our heart still breaks for D1Naz....and we are grieving. I lost my adoption ministry. I lost so many friends, who will not speak to me, and are angry at us for leaving. And yet.....we are supposed to all be children of God??? My kids have really struggled with this. Especially because one of my dear friends was so hurtful to me, and it has really made them wonder what is REALLY inside of someone's heart. Only God knows. But in certain circumstances....we can get a glimpse. So we would appreciate your prayers. We know we are where we are supposed to be, and God never promises us comfort! But this has been really, really hard.<br />
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The kids are thriving in school this year! I have 8 enrolled full-time at Decatur Christian School, and 2 in 3 day a week preschool. My tuition is twice as much as my house payment!!! But we KNOW this is where the kids are supposed to be. The staff is amazing, they are such wonderful Godly people. My kids are getting a good solid education, and I am having fun helping out a few times a week.<br />
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Dale changed jobs again. After a miserable 18 months working family practice at DMH, he went back to surgery in Springfield, and he is now HAPPY! He is working lots of hours, but the respect and appreciation he gets there is SO worth it, compared to the abuse at DMH. It is nice to have a happy husband again, even it he does fall asleep by 8pm! LOL<br />
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Last thing of the night is a prayer request. My Teddy, the sweet little peanut I have been sponsoring in China for the past 7 years, is now available for adoption. I LOVE this boy. He breaks my heart! I have such mixed feelings about him. I WANT to bring him home. But, I am so stretched, broke, and exhausted most of the time. And my kids need so much of me....many times more than I can give them! I just don't know if I could balance another. But the agency that is advocating for him, says they think he has ZILCH chance of finding a family, because his needs are so great. So, friends, what do I do??? Do I continue to pay for his care in China, pray for him, and visit him as often as I can? OR do I take the plunge and bring him home, and let the world think I am crazy, and perhaps go a little crazy??? UGH I asked the Lord to break my heart for what breaks His, but now I wanna take it back! LOL Teddy, no matter what.....please know that I LOVE YOU! God bound our hearts together, and you are stuck with me! I just don't know what that will look like exactly, but its the truth.<br />
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Speaking of adoption, since I kinda got the boot from Treasured Adoption Foundation, I gladly accepted a board position with In His Hands Orphan Outreach, and I am LOVING it! So many amazing opportunities to serve the Lord through orphan care! More details to come, but lets just say I am gonna be using that passport very often!<br />
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God bless you my friends! Thanks for tolerating my absence and my ramblings!<br />
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<br />Ann McKinneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09801174016185311867noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1989296180299181058.post-88102955752222061472016-02-06T20:58:00.001-08:002016-02-06T20:58:13.869-08:00The kids I love......I love my family. I love my kids! Yes, they drive me crazy some days. But I really do love them and enjoy spending time with them, watching them grow and learn. My family makes me smile and they make me proud. Here are some of my favorite pics of them, taken recently.......<span id="goog_1102881864"></span><br />
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<span id="goog_1102881863"></span>Ann McKinneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09801174016185311867noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1989296180299181058.post-64619383915241339142016-01-26T11:09:00.003-08:002016-01-26T11:09:51.952-08:00Good News and prayers requested......Adoption update: The good news is that our dossier is finally off to China! It seems like this has taken SO long, but it is finally out of our hands. We are praying to travel on March 18 or 19, but we are not sure it can happen that fast. That would be the beginning of our kid's spring break, so that is the perfect week.<br />
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Along with that good update, we have a prayer request. This morning we got a couple of new photos of Miles. He does not look good. He is so jaundice, so puffy. And the dark spots on his face and hands seem a little darker. We are told this is probably a symptom of liver toxicity. We have got to get this boy home. He just looks so sad and so sick. It breaks my heart.<br />
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So, friends, PLEASE pray specifically for his health to be stabile, and for him to not be having any pain or discomfort. And please pray that things would move along in record time, so we can GET HIM HOME!!! Thank you! God bless you!!!Ann McKinneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09801174016185311867noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1989296180299181058.post-78047689882712040472016-01-09T20:59:00.000-08:002016-01-09T21:06:19.175-08:00A Familiar Journey Hmmmm, now can you guess what journey would be very familiar to me? If you know me at all, you probably guessed an adoption journey, and yes, you would be right. We have 2 home-grown children, and we have adopted 11 children. 5 were newborns- adopted domestically. 3 were toddlers- adopted from China. 3 were a sibling group of tweens- adopted domestically. All were considered special needs, although technically only 7 have ongoing medical/therapy needs. Adoption is my passion, my world, it is partially what created my amazing family. I LOVE adoption. I love "almost" everything about it. When I grow up, I want to turn my adoption ministry into an adoption agency, and I want to spend my life finding forever families for orphans. That would be an absolute dream come true! I pray that one day God will grant me this desire of my heart!<br />
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So, I guess it is also no surprise that we are adopting again! Actually, it kinda was a surprise to us! We had absolutely NO intention of adoption again. Well, truthfully, at least not soon. We have always felt we would adopt until we were no longer able, but we were choosing to slow down and let our kids grow up a bit. Until we heard about "Miles" AKA Mao Xin Dai. Miles was found abandoned as a 5 year old. Left in a train station in southern China. I am sure he was old enough to have memories of this trauma. I cannot even imagine. For the past 8 years, he has been living in an orphanage. But he is sick. Very sick. He has Beta Thalassemia, just like MengYan. This is probably the very reason he was abandoned. It is very difficult to get care for a child with Thalassemia in China. In fact, most children in China with Thal, do not live past their 5th birthday. Here is the US, it is a very treatable disease. So, for his entire life, he has had very basic treatment of his disease. He is not getting blood transfusions as often as he needs them, so he is chronically anemic, which is damaging his organs and his bones. He has never received the required iron chelation therapy, so he has a severe iron overload in his liver, his heart and his pituitary glands. His heart is already showing signs of damage, which may or may not be correctible. His swollen belly is full of gallstones. I cannot imagine how that hurts. And all of this without the love and support of a family. Heartbreaking. Literally.<br />
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We advocated. We prayed. Hundreds of people did. He doesn't even know how many people have prayed over him!!! We watched as 2 different families stepped forward, excited to commit to adopting him. And then we watched, as both families backed out, for various reasons. And then we felt that familiar feeling. That Miles was OUR son. The more we prayed, the more God confirmed it! His name is to be Miles Xin Dai McKinney!!!<br />
So here we go again!<br />
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We started the process in September. We are almost DTC at this point, and then things will move quickly. We are told we should travel in March/April at the latest. The unfamiliar thing about this journey is that we have never adopted a teenager who doesn't speak English! That could be.....interesting! But we are determined to make this work, and we know God's hand is all over this adoption. He has blown open closed doors on two separate occasions. He is little by little removing the financial hurdles, that are overwhelming. He is preparing our hearts, and the hearts of our children. Miles is our son. And very soon, we will meet him!!!<br />
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We covet your prayers. We ask you to consider helping us financially. But most of all we ask you to try to understand. God puts these crazy notions on our hearts. We have to be obedient! Being in the will of God is exactly where we want to be. It is not in God's will for any child to be an orphan. We praise Him, that we are chosen to be Mile's family!!!!!<br />
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God bless!!!<br />
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Would you like to help us financially? Miles has a Reeces Rainbow account. All donations to this account go directly to our agency, to help with our adoption expenses. And they are tax deductible. Here is the link to our page. http://reecesrainbow.org/98043/sponsormckinney<br />
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<br />Ann McKinneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09801174016185311867noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1989296180299181058.post-70436867529816936342015-08-21T13:08:00.002-07:002015-08-21T13:08:58.250-07:00Lots of catching up!Hello! I am finally back! Such crazy busy-ness.....probably the busiest summer we have ever had! But also a great one. <br />
I am not even sure where to begin.....so here are some highlights.<br />
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Meng and I, as well as some friends from church went to CHINA! We went back to Meng's orphanage and spent almost a week loving on some beautiful, amazing orphans at Shepherd's Field Children's Village. It was a magical week, and we hope to go back next summer. I spent a LOT of time with my sponsor boy, Teddy. And met a lot of new kids and some I met when we brought Meng home. Meng spent a lot of time with Maggie, who was one of her bff's years ago. Thanks to everyone who donated diapers, formula, and supplies. They are appreciated!<br />
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Brogan spend some time here, and we spent some time with her! Landon is getting so big and he is so smart! Zachary just graduated from the police academy, and Brogan just graduated from TSA academy, so they are both busy working, parenting, and getting to know Minneapolis. Still do wish they were closer, but it is closer than NC!<br />
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We took the ENTIRE family to New Mexico! We went with some great friends to a Navajo reservation and we worked out little tails OFF~! It was a great week, with the exception of the AC going out in our van. Yeah, that wasn't so great for 110 degree weather. But we survived and we had a great time. The Navajo people are such appreciative, grateful, yet proud people. They blessed us.<br />
Everyone thought we were crazy for taking Daley and the twins, but they were all excellent, with no medical issues. God is good!<br />
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On the way home from NM, we got a call asking us to please host a Chinese orphan for a month. We weren't exactly prepared, but we said yes anyway, and on the way home, we picked up Simon! Simon was 10 years old, had some mild CP, and a big attitude! You know I love kids.....but this little guy challenged me to the very core! I was very bummed, because his behavior was so difficult, I did not think he would find a family to adopt him. But God had other plans, and there is an amazing family who are pursuing his adoption! We pray that the love and stability of a great Christian family is all this guy needs to be obedient and polite. He has a great heart.....we are excited to see him again when he comes home with his family!<br />
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And then our Japanese student, Yura arrived! We have hosted Japanese students 7 times, and Yura is by far our favorite! What a sweet, helpful, talented girl! We miss her already! Come back next summer, Yura!<br />
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Wen had his 4th and hopefully final bladder surgery! We had to deal with Stevie the Catheter again for a few weeks (dread.....yes he really did name it), but it is down, over, and things are looking good!<br />
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We ended our summer by touring the Arch in St Louis, and going to the State Fair. All in all, this summer wore me out! Or maybe that was the twins that wore me out......could have been either! LOL<br />
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And now school has started. Are you ready for this news???? For the first time in 16 years, I am not homeschooling. Yep, that is right, I enrolled Brittany, Keagan, Brianna, Bronwyn, Tobin, Rory and Meng in DCS this year! And to get even crazier.....Wen and Wu are going to an ESL preschool each morning, where they are learning English, getting OT, PT, and speech services! So, I am trying to catch up my filthy house, catch up some paperwork, advocate for orphans (always) and love on my Daley while the kids are at school. So far, so good, but then again, this is only day 2!!!!<br />
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One last thing......you may remember my post and my issues regarding Six Flags, well, this week at an information hearing they asked for it to become a settlement hearing! I am not allowed to reveal much, but I will say that the changes they are making are a huge blessing for everyone who has a limb difference or disability! Can you believe it....WE WON!!!! We took on the Six Flags giant, and WE WON!!!! Praise God for his goodness and for his guidance!!! HE IS GOOD!<br />
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More soon, but in the meantime, enjoy these photos!<br />
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Ann McKinneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09801174016185311867noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1989296180299181058.post-82326085708272973712015-01-31T21:09:00.000-08:002015-01-31T21:14:51.748-08:00Just a little bit busier these days!!! Wow, I cannot believe I haven't posted since September!!!! Well, I guess I have a pretty good excuse.....the twins are HOME, and that means I am just a wee bit busy! And I love it! Here is a brief update on life at the Castle Norwood over the past few months:<br />
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We met the twins in China, and instantly fell in love! They were so much happier, healthier, and more active than we ever imagined! They were VERY tiny.....we had packed them size 2T and 3T clothing, since they are 3 1/2, and we ended up having to buy them size 12 months in China! They cried when they first met us....they were so afraid! The room was full of people, full of nervous kids, and it was overwhelming. But after playing with them few minutes, they finally relaxed. We quickly realized that we had them pegged wrong. From their descriptions, we expected Wu (who is more disabled) to be the more timid, more needy one. Not the case. He is all about being the boss. He is smart, sassy, and he definitely takes care of his brother Wen. Wen's nannies told us he was the whiney one, and they were right! LOL He is goofier and silly, but also the one who needs someone to love on him and take care of him. They are so well bonded. They talk to each other constantly, encourage each other constantly, and cannot stand to be apart. There was a time in China, when they snuck behind a floor lamp, and they were having this adorable conversation about us. It was so cute. They were pointing at us, and chatting back and forth. They must have decided we were ok, because it wasn't long before they were jumping on daddy and snuggling me! They have adjusted SO well it is amazing. They are absolutely beautiful, loving, sweet boys, who are incredibly smart and talented. They love to sing and learn. Yes, we have had some rocking temper tantrums, mostly out of Mr. Wu, but nothing that we cannot handle. And he is always ready for a snuggle when they are over! <br />
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Daley Faith had some surgery this month. Her seizures have become a huge issue, with the intensity and frequency increasing over the past few months. So, we had a Vagal Nerve Stimulator inserted into her chest. It was just activated 2 weeks ago, and we are already seeing a difference in the length of her seizures. Every 2 weeks we will increase the intensity of the VNS until we have a good control over her seizures. I am very encouraged that this is a much better answer to the epilepsy than increasing and adding more drugs, which just make her dopey and tired all of the time.<br />
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Meng Yan also had some surgery! Shortly after bringing the twins home, she began to complain of belly aches, especially at night, after dinner. I kinda thought it might be a bit of jealousy, so I spent some extra time snuggling her and reading with her in the evenings. The pains continued, so we finally did an ultrasound, to check her belly, and low and behold, we found gall stones. LOTS of gall stones. An unfortunate side affect of having Beta Thalassemia. So, last week she had her gall bladder removed. She had a lot of pain for a few days, but today was mad because I would not let her play at her basketball game! She is a trooper!<br />
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Keagan and Bronwyn have been insanely busy, as they are both playing basketball for Decatur Christian and UPWARDS with our church. Toby, Rory, and Meng are also playing UPWARDS basketball. I LOVE going to basketball games, but I think I have seen my fair share this year, and I am looking forward to having my nights free again! But they have all had a great season!<br />
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Brianna and Britt are doing well. Brianna continues to be the class clown, and Britt is certainly making a name for herself with her amazing artwork. Britt has been struggling with a lot of garbage from her past, but we are praying hard that satan would be bound, and her spirit would heal. God has big plans for these girls, and I am excited to be a small part of it!<br />
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Patrick has also been struggling. He and Danyne broke up while we were in China. I did not take it well, as I dearly love Danyne. Always thought I would have her as a daughter-in-law (and secretly still hope to!). Patrick has struggled finding a job. He was hired by a company before Christmas, but they currently have no welding contracts, so he has yet to begin work. He interviewed with another company last week, and has some more testing to do for them on Tuesday. I pray God puts him in a good place, the right place where he will have the influence of Godly men. He is trying to figure out his path in this world, and it needs to be a Godly path. He has such amazing potential!<br />
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Brian is doing well at Hoyleton. He was able to come visit over Christmas, and it was really good to see him. For a while he was calling me every night, which was great. Lately, however, I have not heard from him as much. He told me he "forgot about me", which broke my heart! But, I guess that it is good that he is staying busy and active. Despite everything that has happened with Brian, I do miss him very much. I hope he can someday come back to our home, but if not, I hope we will always maintain a healthy relationship with him.<br />
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Brogan, Zachary, and Landon will be visiting next week! I am SO excited! They are moving to Minneapolis, and will be staying with us for a week, while they wait for the moving truck to meet them. I am so excited to see them all! And I am also so excited that they will be so much closer! They will be 7 hours away, instead of 17 hours away! Still not close enough, but I will take it!<br />
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Ok, now here is the crazy news. No, I am not adopting again, At least not yet! There is this little boy named Teddy, that Dale and I have been sponsoring for about 4 years. He is from Meng's orphanage in China. Teddy is a lot like my Daley. He cannot speak, sit up, and does not interact much. He is dying. He is 7 years old and weighs less than 14 pounds. It is KILLING me. I actually send his info to my caseworker and begged her to approve me to go get him, but she cannot. I cannot even apply to adopt him until the twins have been home 12 months, which would be October. He won't be alive in October at the rate he is failing. I cannot just let him die. So, with the help of some friends, I have made arrangements to get him a high calorie nutrition supplement in China. IT is expensive....about $350 for a 2 month supply. I am seeking donations towards this formula, as it is too much for me to pay for alone. I had a lot of wonderful people contribute last month, so we have the first 2 months paid for. If this formula does not help him gain weight, then it will cost about $1200 to have a tube put into Teddy, and another $150 to train the nannies to use it. And the crazier thing is that I totally feel in my spirit that I need to go spend some time with him. So, the last week of May, Meng and I are heading to China! She will get to see the nannies who loved her and cared for her, and I will get to meet and love on Teddy. And Dale will get to hold down the fort while I am gone! LOL<br />
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Ok, I have SO much more to catch up on, but I gotta get some sleep! Love you all, thanks for checking in!<br />
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<span id="goog_1216036438"></span>Ann McKinneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09801174016185311867noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1989296180299181058.post-64820873475398693752014-09-25T12:49:00.000-07:002014-09-25T12:49:00.382-07:00Here we go!China Bound! <br />
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Yes we are! Flights are booked, hotels are booked, and we are beyond excited (and incredibly nervous). We are leaving on October 10, flying our to Chicago. Flying in to HongKong, where we will stay over night, and take the train the next day to Guangzhou. We will meet our boys on October 13! All the paperwork takes place the next day, the consulate appointment is the 20th, and we will be back home on the 22nd.<br />
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My mind is racing.....so many things to do, to get ready. So many arrangements to make for the kids who will be staying home with big sister, Brogan, and my grandson Landon. Everyday I think of something else I need to do or prepare. But I am blessed that so many of my family and friends are pitching in to help out. My biggest concern is leaving Daley for so long. But, she is stable right now, and outside of having too many seizures, she is pretty predictable.<br />
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Lord, thank you! Thank you that after praying for these boys for almost TWO YEARS, that we are so close to making them ours! Thank you for providing the finances necessary, and the helpers who are pitching in as needed. Please calm our nerves, help us think clearly, and bless and protect our flight, our trip, and our children, who will be waiting at home. And please prepare our hearts to be parents again, and Wen and Wu's hearts, to become a permanent part of our family! You are an awesome God! Amen! <br />
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Ann McKinneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09801174016185311867noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1989296180299181058.post-33771219180510737502014-09-16T21:47:00.000-07:002014-09-16T21:47:07.587-07:00Waiting (not so patiently) for TRAVEL APPROVAL!China is getting closer and closer! Yesterday we got notice that our Article 5 was picked up, and delivered to CCCWA. Now we wait on Travel Approval, which generally takes 1-3 weeks. Although 2 families have gotten theirs in less than a week recently! The timing is bad, unfortunately. All of China is closed for a holiday Oct 1-8. And beginning Oct 15, there is a trade show in the province we are going, which will drive all of the hotel and restaurant prices UP. But we don't even care at this point! We will go to get the boys the minute we are able to! Hoping to leave for China Oct 11, Gotcha day on Oct 13. Prayers please! <br />
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For anyone wanting to follow our journey to bring home Wen and Wu, we will probably be posting most information and photos on the boys FB page. Just search for "Always Room for More". I am trying my best to keep that site updated.<br />
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Everything else is good here! Six Flags roast has finally died down somewhat. Kids are doing well in school. Dale is loving his new job. Brian is doing well at Hoyleton. <br />
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Here are some new pics to enjoy!<br />
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The gang, visiting Brian!</div>
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Daley Faith, enjoying her new bed!</div>
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Keagan, Bailey (his honey-pie) and Timothy</div>
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Happy 14th Bday Bronwyn~</div>
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Britt and Brianna's volleyball team!</div>
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<br />Ann McKinneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09801174016185311867noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1989296180299181058.post-55199162396676806942014-09-02T20:37:00.001-07:002014-09-02T20:38:53.251-07:00UGH...Well, my blog is now private. We have officially filed an American with Disabilities Act lawsuit against Six Flags, on behalf of Rory. Flip back to the 2012 Momma Bear post, if you don't know what this is all about. We are the 4th suit to be filed against Six Flags for the same reason....discrimination against children and adults with hand/leg differences. Well, our attorney warned us about the press, and boy was he right. We have been completely roasted in the press. People automatically assume the worst. That I am a terrible mother, with too many kids, who is looking for free money. This could not be further from the truth. And to make matters worse, in the first Chicago Sun Times article, the reporter printed my private blog info as well as Rory's FB page info. So....to keep from being ripped up on my very own private media spots, I have closed them.<br />
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Anyone who takes 5 minutes to research, with find out that ADA suits can ask for legal and filing fees only. We can only ask for damages (which we would not) in a private suit. An ADA suit is basically for policy change, and for equal treatment for people with disabilities.<br />
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I cannot even go online, to read the posts from readers. They are SO mean. SO hurtful. I guess I am pretty naive, because I sure didn't expect so much hate. I have to keep reminding myself that this is SO small compared to what Jesus endured. But it is still pretty hard.<br />
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So....in the meantime, I am keeping very busy. Putting the kids in school has been good, but OMGOSH, so much time is gone! School til 3:30, then sports til 6, then homework til bedtime. I miss them! We literally went from spending ALL day together, to barely having any fun time together! Hoping we get used to it, and that their days begin to run more smooth, so we have more time together. They are really liking it, though! And it is such a weird feeling only homeschooling 3! Wow, it has been a while!<br />
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News on Wen and Wu.....our DS-260 has been filed, and we are waiting on Article 5 pick up. And then Travel Approval. We are being told we should travel by October 1, but most timelines I am looking at seem to be a little longer. Regardless, we are READY! I cannot wait to love on those boys!<br />
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Enjoy some new pics!<br />
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A GREAT new photo of my honeys!</div>
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Arent't these Ts adorable? For Daley and the twins</div>
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Keagan's first football game. He is number 10</div>
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Me and my dear friend Darcy, in a 5K we ran to benefit my nephew David, who is battling cancer</div>
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Shunnichi's last evening with us. He made us a great Japanese dinner</div>
<br />Ann McKinneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09801174016185311867noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1989296180299181058.post-24672411194536099312014-08-17T14:42:00.000-07:002014-08-17T14:42:51.650-07:00A little step closer to ChinaWell, we have our Provisional Approval to bring the boys home now! This means we are literally less than 2 months from bringing them home. We are waiting on a few last things to happen in the process, and then we will need to apply for both our visas and the boys' visas. I cannot believe it is SO close! I have little by little been gathering things they need. I think all that is left is carseats. And of course, some more toys! Also waiting for a new video of them. We sent them a photo book of our family, as well as a cake and some toys. Any day now I should be getting the video of them, when they see our photos for the first time!!!<br />
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We have 2 families from our church, who will be heading to China in the next few weeks, to bring their daughters home. I am SO excited for them! One is a Beta Thal gal, like my Mengy, and the other has a mild form of dwarfism. They are both beautiful! And 2 other church friends in process from China, including my sister and her family......working hard to get Shazhou home quickly!!!<br />
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Brian is settled in at Hoyleton Ministry Residential Home. He most recently got very upset with me over a conversation in which he told me I needed to come get him. He began that all too familiar yelling and accusing, and immediately my stomach began to churn. I do help this facility can help him control his rages, either through medication or through behavioral therapy. Please keep praying for him. We hope to visit him in the next few weeks, but only if his conversations are a little less aggressive.<br />
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We have been fun winding down our summer. We went to the state fair, bought all of our school supplies, and have been taking Shunnishi souvenir shopping before he heads back to Japan in just a few days. Meng had her surgery to replace her port. There were some complications, and it was a little rough, but she is a trooper, and is recovering well! Dale is really liking his new job. It is SO nice to have him so close to home! He is able to have lunch with us several days a week.<br />
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Well, to close, I want to do something I used to do, years ago, in my prayer journal. Basically, list prayer requests and praises. You don't have to read them if you don't want to, they are basically reminders for me....and a cool way to follow later and see how God has worked! Blessings friends!<br />
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Praises: Prov. App for the boys! Travel so close for Browns and Powells, kids ready for school!, Mengs surgery is over, Daley has been so happy and healthy, a nurse that prays over Daley and truly loves her, Dale's new job, Patrick's new job, my kids sports involvement in their new school, friendly families are the kids' new school, my wonderful church family and friends, our new basketball court<br />
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Prayers: Celia Bethard family (she recently passed) , Preparation for our heart and our boys', Finances to complete the adoption and to afford private school for the teens, Patrick's heart and future, Brogan and Zachary - job opportunities closer to home, David Joel, Anita, and Todd-battling cancer, Greg Scott-mother recently passed, Pierson's-need PA for Shazhou!<br />
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<span id="goog_1270211331"></span><span id="goog_1270211332"></span><br />Ann McKinneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09801174016185311867noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1989296180299181058.post-68383154344758185282014-08-04T21:37:00.000-07:002014-08-04T21:37:05.727-07:00Children here in IL needing a family! And an update on my crazy family!Hello friends! So, have you felt that tug on your heart to adopt, but haven't quite felt like jumping on a plane and spending insane amounts of money to do so? Well, here is your chance to be a family to some little boys who desperately need one!<br />
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Situation #1: A 5 year old bi-racial boy, whose mother has passed away. He has been living with an aunt, but she wants to find him an adoptive family. He had some prenatal alcohol exposure, and has had several years of physical therapy and speech therapy, but his SW says he is 95% on target. He will start kindergarten this month, and is happy and healthy. Very reasonable fees and immediate placement possible.<br />
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Situation #2: 7 and 10 year old brothers, who need to stay together. Both are happy and healthy, will be in 2nd and 4th grade. Their birthmother suffers from some mental illness/anxiety and no longer wants to parent. They are staying with a grandfather, but need immediate placement. Again, reasonable fees. These boys would qualify for a non-ward subsidy, which would give them a medical card and a monthly stipend to help with their expenses.<br />
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Please contact me if you are interested in either of these situations!!!<br />
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Ok, news on us. We had an amazing visit with Bronwyn's birth brother, Brandon and his family. Also had the opportunity to meet her Uncle Jerome. They are awesome people, and we are blessed to have them as a part of our extended family! Hoping to see them again this fall!<br />
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Exciting news about my sister and her family.....they have decided to pursue adopting Shazhou!!!! I cannot tell you how much this news blesses me! He is a wonderful little man, and he seems to fit right into their family. He had to go back to China last week, but they are working hard on their paperwork, and hope to have him home permanently by spring. Don't they look great together!</div>
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We have very good news about our situation with Brian. First of all, our charges have been dropped. Praise God! This news is like a million pounds being lifted off of us. And more good news is that he was accepted into Hoyleton Ministries Residential Program, which is a great placement, and only about 2 hours from home. Bad news is that his aggression continues to be a huge issue. Please help us continue to pray for his mental health.</div>
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While we were in Chicago, we had the awesome opportunity to visit my "kinda of sort of son", Chris Bradham. He has been a wonderful part of our lives for many years. He recently had some reconstructive surgery on his leg/hip, and is in a rehab hospital in Chicago. We had a very fun visit with him. He is just as crazy as ever!</div>
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Other news.....we have Shunnichi here visiting us from Japan. He is our 6th Japanese student to stay with us, through the Labo/Lex program. He is extremely polite and kind. Hope we are not driving him crazy! LOL</div>
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Other kids are well, getting ready for school to start. My curriculum is bought and waiting. Bought the teens supplies tonight and their official registration is Thursday. They are excited/nervous about this new adventure called DECATUR CHRISTIAN SCHOOL. They are gonna do great!</div>
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God bless you all!</div>
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Oops, I almost forgot! I just completed the Decatur to Peoria St. Jude Run! I didn't die! It was actually a lot of fun, and so touching. We stayed for the ceremony this year, and got to meet and greet lots of St Jude kiddos and their families. It was awesome. I am gonna run it again next year, and then my goal for the following year (my 50th bday) is to run on the Memphis to Peoria team! </div>
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<span id="goog_1110962317"></span><span id="goog_1110962318"></span><br />Ann McKinneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09801174016185311867noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1989296180299181058.post-29300946658129655612014-07-29T21:04:00.002-07:002014-07-29T21:04:24.008-07:00In our hands!Yep, our LOA from China arrived today! Countdown to China has begun! It finally seems real! And now I have to wrap my head around being a mom again.....to two three year olds! EEK! <span id="goog_632577378"></span><br />
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<span id="goog_632577377"></span>Ann McKinneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09801174016185311867noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1989296180299181058.post-78189132209632134892014-07-25T19:35:00.000-07:002014-07-25T19:35:29.843-07:00 Meng's Blown Port, our REAL LOA (and new W&W pics), and a Brian update!Hey folks!<br />
Lots of craziness going on here, a usual. Meng, Rory and I just got back from Memphis TN, where Meng had her 6 month check up at St. Jude Children's Research Hospital. We have been having lots of trouble with her port these past few months. Yesterday we discovered why....there was a small kink in it, and after trying carefully to straighten it out with a few ml's of saline, the nurse accidentally blew a hole in it! OUCH! Meng flipped out (yes, it was painful), and now.....she has to have surgery to remove the blown port and replace it. Not a major surgery, but still one more thing to add to my list! And....Peoria wants Memphis to do the surgery, so we will be heading back in August to have the port replaced. But...despite that unpleasantness, Memphis was great! We went with some friends, who introduced us to some local authentic BBQ and some amazing pizza! We had a good time. But now we are tired! LOL<br />
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Well, you may remember that I was SO excited to announce that we got the boy's LOA?!?! Well, the agency director had us confused with another family. How disappointing to find out she was wrong! But....TODAY WE GOT OUR REAL LOA! So, we can celebrate all over again! LOL With as busy as things have been, it didn't seem like to much extra time to wait.....and we still got it in less than 60 days, when many folks are waiting 90 or 100! God is good, his timing is perfect! We should still travel by early fall.<br />
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Brian news. Well, as crazy as this sounds, I just made a DCFS hotline call to turn DCFS in for child abuse! Really! He has been in a facility called Aunt Martha's ever since our dependency hearing at the beginning of the month. We have been able to talk with him, check on him, and be involved in his care. Little by little he began to have some aggression issues, especially over this past week. And then yesterday, I am told he snapped. Injured several staff and patients, and damaged office equipment. He was SASS screened, and taken to a psych hospital in Chicago. Today, I called to check on him and talk to him, and I was told that they could not speak to me, since he was a state ward. I spent the day (while driving home from Memphis) calling every social worker involved in his care, but not a single one ever called me back. The hospital absolutely refuses to talk to me, or to allow me to talk to Brian. So, I called DCFS to report that my son was not being allowed to speak to me, or for me to able to check on him. Their response? Wait til Monday and they will get a social worker to permit the hospital to talk to me. Crazy. I know Brian. After he rages, he is scared. He is alone. He needs to hear a familiar voice, and we were hoping to visit him this Sunday. But......they seem to know what is best for him, so none of those things are allowed. It is truly a broken system, and one that does NOT have the best interest of the child at heart. We were promised by DCFS and the judge in our case, that we would be involved in every aspect of Brian's care. Not true. Even though we retained our parental rights, we basically have none. So, once again, I place Brian in God's hands, and ask God to comfort him, and bring him peace. I know He will. And I ask Him to give me peace also! <br />
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Gotta go. Busy weekend! We have Shunnishi here visiting from Japan, we are heading to Chicago tomorrow to visit Bronwyn's birth family, and to visit Chris B, who just had surgery. Then heading to St. Louis on Monday, to take Daley to a seizure specialist. Always busy, but loving my busy life and my beautiful family!!!<br />
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Enjoy these amazing new pics of my boys! I cannot wait to hug them!<br />
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<br />Ann McKinneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09801174016185311867noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1989296180299181058.post-14046625591777718682014-07-12T13:44:00.001-07:002014-07-12T13:44:08.120-07:00Boys, we are coming!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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I just have a minute, but I had to share! I went to an adoption picnic today, and there was our agency director, who told us she has our Letter of Approval from CHINA! WOOHOOOOOOO<br />
We will be finishing up all of the last paperwork, and should travel in about 8 weeks!<br />
OMGosh! It is real! Thank you Jesus! Cecil LiWen McKinney and Ervin LiWu McKinney,<br />
I cannot wait to meet you! Ann McKinneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09801174016185311867noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1989296180299181058.post-27400483365399716872014-07-09T08:51:00.000-07:002014-07-09T08:51:05.546-07:00My quiet week!Well, this is a very unusual week for me! Brittany is serving with our church on a mission trip in Georgia. Keagan, Bronwyn, and Brianna are at Camp One Way's Teen Retreat. And Tobin, MengYan and Rory are at Camp CoCo, and hem/onc camp in Bloomington. That means I have ONLY Daley Faith at home with me this week! This house is SOOOO quiet! It is kinda weird! It was nice for the first day, now I miss them like crazy! I am working on a list of household projects I am working on completing. Doing good with it so far, but not sure I will complete my list by Friday!<br />
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Daley has been a lil stinker lately! She is so darn cute. She is not supposed to have enough brain to have personality, likes/dislikes, etc. But she sure does! Her big thing lately is holding a grudge. She got FURIOUS with me over her bath a few days ago, and when I tried to comfort her afterwards (Yes, she HATES them), she literally took her little hands and pushed my face away from her! So cute! And yesterday I was trying to rub her head and kiss her cheek, but shame on me....I was interrupting her Sesame Street! So, she did it again, literally pushed me away from her! LOL She is becoming just like the other kids, with a lil attitude!<br />
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We went to court on Monday, for our situation with Brian. We completed all 5 hearings for his care in one appearance. He is now a state ward, but we were able to maintain our parental rights. We will be a part of his care, his future. We will be able to visit him, call him, and retain our mom/dad relationship with him. And....if he makes drastic improvements, we also have the option of trying to transition him back home. He is currently in a place called Aunt Martha's in Chicago, while they try to find the best residential placement for him. The only stinky news, is that we did not get our charges dropped at this point. This hearing was only for Brian, not our criminal charges. So, we have to go to court again on Aug. 5. If they call our names and announce No Charge afterwards, we go home and it is all over. If they give us a docket number, then we have to hire a lawyer. I am confident we will be OK. DCFS and the Asst State Atty have both asked the court to drop our charges. And....God is in control. As always.<br />
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Dale started his new job at DMH this week, and Patrick also started a new job, with MiCar. Dale will be working with Dr. Krause and Dr. Dold in the Neurosurgical dept, and Patrick will be welding and pipefitting at ADM. So good to have both my men working!<br />
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I am working hard this week to read through the entire New Testament. Every time I read God's Word, I stumbled across something I don't ever remember reading before. OR perhaps just something I really need to read at that particular time. I am really convicted of LOVE this week. Showing love, sharing love, experiencing love, and loving even when it is hard or I don't want to. <br />
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Blessings!!!!!<span id="goog_1365342575"></span><br />
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This is the amazing lil man my sister is hosting for the month! His name is Shazou, and he is absolutely adorable! I am so hoping they decide to make him a permanent family member! Adoption rocks!</div>
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Dale's official name on the office door at DMH. I am so proud of that sweet man!</div>
<span id="goog_1365342574"></span>Ann McKinneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09801174016185311867noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1989296180299181058.post-54536447274372034252014-07-05T05:59:00.000-07:002014-07-05T05:59:52.960-07:00Family NewsHello friends,<br />
I wanted to give you all an update, especially on our situation with Brian. It has been a difficult week. On Monday, we met with all of the therapists again, as well as executives from DCFS. By the end of the meeting, they all agreed that we should not bring Brian home, for safety reasons. We all decided that the best road for us to take was to do a DCFS supported "Lock-out", which is basically where we refuse to bring Brian home, once the mental hospital is ready to discharge him. So, that happened on Wednesday. The hospital knew this was our plan, and all people involved did as well. I was able to talk with Brian beforehand, to explain the situation to him.<br />
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The downside to a lock-out, is that the police have to be involved. Shortly after the process began, they called, and needed Dale and I to come to the police station, where they arrested us, and charged us with child endangerment/abandonment. We literally sat in this little holding room for 4 hours, while they tried to sort it all out. I am a document/paperwork freak, so this helped us tremendously, as I already had a packet of info prepared for both the police and the DCFS investigator. Brian was in the room across from us, and he was very agitated. We are told he tried to punch on of the officers, he destroyed some security equipment, and he took off his clothing (this is a new one). I know he was just scared. <br />
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On Monday, we go to court, to begin the Petition of Dependency process, and to ask that our charges be dropped. I have met with the asst. to the States Atty, and they have assured me that they are asking for charges to be dropped. DCFS is asking for this also, so I am fairly confident we will be ok. Brian is in a temporary placement, at a shelter in Chicago, while they try to find the best residential facility for him. We are NOT giving up our parental rights, we will still be very involved in his care and treatment. We have explained to him, that he is still our son, and we will always be there for him, he just will not live in our home.....just like his sister Brogan who is in NC, or his brother Brandon, who lives with another adoptive family. He seemed to understand this very well, and is ok with this transition.<br />
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Whew. In other news......next week will be so weird! My kid are all heading in different directions! Brittany leaves today for a mission trip with our church to Georgia. Tomorrow Rory, Meng and Toby are heading to their favorite summer camp, Camp CoCo! And Monday Keagan, Brianna, and Brownyn are heading to Camp One Way. So.....I will have only Daley at home with me all week!!!! Wow, crazy! Don't worry, I have lots of things planned. Mostly painting and cleaning. And a little date night with Dale as well! <br />
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Well, I have to get off this computer and get moving this morning. Thanks for checking in.<br />
God bless!<br />
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<br />Ann McKinneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09801174016185311867noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1989296180299181058.post-26481141791726559642014-06-27T11:09:00.001-07:002014-06-27T11:09:52.711-07:00God is so good!Just a short note to proclaim how good God is! He continually shows me his glory, through my garden, through my kids, through baby birds hatching in the midst of a storm. All around me are signs of his goodness and his power. He is in control, and I have to always remember that....especially when my anxieties and worries kick in. It is wonderful to have a Father who knows just what I need, and just how to take care of me!<br />
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Ann McKinneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09801174016185311867noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1989296180299181058.post-63008231860859515422014-06-26T20:36:00.001-07:002014-06-26T20:36:18.422-07:00My absolute JOY!Our latest photo......all of the most amazing, beloved people in my life. I love them all so much. I cannot imagine what I could possibly have done for God to bless me so much! <br />
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Back row: Brianna, Keagan, Patrick, Brittany,Timothy, and Bronwyn</div>
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Middle Row: Rory, MengYan and Tobin</div>
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Front: Dale, Daley Faith, and me (Ann)</div>
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In the photos are Brian (who was hospitalized during this photo), and Wen and Wu, who aren't home with us yet......they are waiting in China!</div>
Ann McKinneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09801174016185311867noreply@blogger.com0