Wednesday, October 31, 2012

Andrew

Andrew asked if he and I could talk after dinner last night.  So when the meal was over, we headed to the living room to escape the seven other kids in the house.

He told me when he first came to America, and the reason for his coming, was to make something of himself and head back to Ukraine in a couple of years.  He didn't want to stick around.  But now that he's here things have changed for him.  He talked about how dad (Mark) and I have taught him love. He has brothers and sisters and a family.  Now that's what's important to him.  He does not want to return to Ukraine until he's in his 30's and only to visit.

He talked about his birth mother and how different her and I are. How he knows I would give my life for him because of my love for him, but she was a bad mom.  She didn't love. He said, again, how there was no love at the orphanage.  No one cared what he did. He could party, drink, smoke, do whatever he wanted and no one cared.  Now he is finding out that he has a mom and a dad who care deeply what he sees and what he listens to.  There are no violent video games in our house.  There is very little Internet time even though it has security blocks. Movies are checked out first before he is allowed to watch them and little to no TV time.

Interestingly, he likes the boundaries we have in place.  He feels loved and knows this family cares very much for him and who he will become.  We share Christ with him often and believe, eventually, he will make a choice for the Lord.  I'm believing he will be a mighty man of God!

Andrew also drew a diagram last night showing me two roads.  One is the orphanage road.  Then there is a small space of grass before there is another road...this is the family road.  He said he's been on the orphanage road, but now he's on the grass taking those baby steps to the family road because that is where he wants to be. He said, "I want to follow you and dad."

These last few months have not always been easy.  The first two months were the hardest, but Andrew has a heart for family and has expressed many times how thankful he is that he's a Mickschl. Adoption can be hard work for both the child and the parent, but it is rewarding!!!

Andrew has been a great example of the older child needing a family.  It doesn't matter that he is almost 17, he wants and needs a mom and dad to show him the way to go. I'm glad he loves us.  I'm glad Andrew is a part of our family.  I'm thankful for my heavenly Father's love that He has shown to us and allowing us to be Andrew's parents. I love my son, Andrew!

15 comments:

  1. What an incredible testimony to sharing the love of Christ with a child of ANY age! I'm crying tears of joy for you and your family, and for Andrew! Praising the Lord with you!
    The Winslow Family--NH
    www.winslowsix.blogspot.com

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  2. So happy to read this - we certainly serve an awesome God!

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  3. He is precious!! I love his story. I love your story. He seems so mature for his age. It is interesting how he comes to you and presents what he has been thinking about.

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  4. I love reading your updates on Jonathan. God knew exactly what He was doing when He placed Jonathan in your family.

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  5. I am so blessed reading your blog! Andrew is very blessed by God, as you are, to have the Great Father arrange your family! God is SO GOOD and so perfect in His timing.

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  6. What a testament to the very love you speak of, the simple fact that a 16y/o son would ask to speak to his mom about deep things in his heart!

    We love you & every one of the Mickschls! Can't wait to hear when Andrew tells you he's already a good ways along 'the family road'!!! :)

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  7. I am so happy for you and Andrew couldn't be any cuter! What a gem!!!!

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  8. OMGOODNESS....WAAAAAAHHHHH Crying like a baby!!! Amazing post, amazing family, amazing mom and dad, amazing son and an AMAZING LORD we SERVE!

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  9. I'm so happy things are going well! Not always easy but so worth it!!!

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  10. That's just incredible!!! I've been following this story since I heard about Andrew last December. I prayed for him all the time, and when I heard a family had stepped up, I was just overjoyed. I'm so glad he is thriving, learning, and growing there!

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  11. I have to catch my breath and praise God when I remember all too well how close he came to letting you leave without him. God is so good!

    Blessings,

    Judee in Iowa

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  12. Hello, I came over from Adeye's blog...her writing and testimony always touches me sooo much. And others she leads her readers to often do the same!
    Since first reading about Andrew on her blog I've been indescribably inspired and touched by this young man. I feel the Lord's Hand over his life and heart and of course, that of his family. What tremendous courage--and a HUGE leap of faith to leave everything you've ever known to live thousands of miles away with people who'd been strangers and now are precious family. Even now, sometimes it STILL must feel sooo unreal to him! And, if he's like many people, it is under the cover of night that we sometimes think too much. It is under the cover of night that we can feel most vulnerable. And, day or night, there may be times when none of what he has now feels truly "normal" to him but may I venture that is because normal to Andrew is in fact NOT normal for much of the world! I wish I could shake his hand, look into his eyes and perhaps give him a hug if he was willing and let him know that even tho I don't know ANY of you I know that he is as important to you, his family as if he'd always been there, as if he had come from your womb! He FITS--he even resembles his family! But mostly, he fits because this can be nothing if not of God!! I will continue to pray for you, Andrew. You are loved by so many and YOU have a future because He (the Lord) HOLDS the future! God Bless you always!

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  13. Thank you for sharing so candidly about Andrew on your blog. We are adopting a child who will soon age out, and your experiences have been very helpful to me.

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