We have been fostering Jonathan since April 21st, and it has been a joy. I (Tandy) am on my new work schedule with him, and it has been a huge blessing so far. We all walk to CDF around 7:40am, and I work there while Jonathan is in Pre-K from 8:00-12:00. We all go home for lunch, and I work from home in the afternoon with Jonathan while Dwight returns to CDF. Since 80% of my work is online/emailing, it actually helps A LOT to be able to work at home in the afternoons without as many distractions.
Jonathan came to CDF the first week of June last summer, and we really don’t have any background on him. A young man dropped him off, but we have never heard from him again. He said he wasn’t a relative, but there’s no telling what the truth is. So….we didn’t have a name or a birth date. Everyone at CDF decided to name him Jonathan (Dwight’s name here), and his nickname became ‘pajarito’ because he mimicked everything you said to him.
Everyone always asks how we “picked” him out of all of the kids. Last fall when we were making this decision, he was truly the only abandoned child we had here. All of our other kids have family members and situations where reconciliation might be a possibility in the future, but that is not the case for him. So….that was how the decision was made.
The process for getting him adoptable has begun. The police are doing a public report which includes posting his picture in the newspaper in case there are any family members who will recognize him. Once he is adoptable, his case will move forward as a ‘national adoption.’ After living here for 3 years (next March), we will be able to adopt as nationals. Until that time, we will be legally fostering him; and hopefully that will work in our favor when the judge makes his final decision.
It is our prayer that if Jonathan does have any family members who want to take care of him…that God would allow them to find him! Although we would love to adopt him, it would break our hearts more to know that he has loving family members out there looking for him. For now…we are going to continue to love him as our own!
Please pray for us. Pray for wisdom and patience as new parents. Pray for him…to prepare his heart for whatever the future holds. Pray that he would come to know the love of Christ…whether with our family or his.
We wanted to share a few pictures with you. He’s quite the little poser when I pull the camera out. Please forgive the excessive number.....this blog has been a long time coming for our families!
He loves to bathe....and cheese big time.
Playing with Mrs. Ingan...
First trip to the pool...
I didn't even think about an Easter egg hunt, but some of my wonderful friends did. :) He used his backpack to stuff them in. 
This was actually a weekend before we took him permanently. We were living with the Waskosky family, and Jonathan loved David. 
This one's for my dad...who always gives me a hard time for never putting pictures of myself on here. love you, daddy! 
He LOVES to drink water, and he'll choose it over anything else we offer. 
SUCH a poser!!! 
Some friends of ours took some family photos a couple of weeks ago, and they did a great job. These pictures weren't really planned...they just snapped them of jonathan while he played between shots. They're my favorite!
This is his sweet face....
...and his 'too cool for school' face. Hands down the best picture of him so far....
Oh. My. Goodness. This is so exciting! What a precious little boy; so happy to hear about this next stage of life for you guys. Will be praying for you all!
ReplyDeleteThis is AMAZING! Makes me cry with happy, joyful tears as I know exactly what you mean about wanting God's will for this sweet boy's life. It's a beautiful process full of so many emotions along the way... but mostly a lot of hope for the path that God takes us down, praising Him through the journey and thanking Him for putting the pieces together! Praying for you both as you take this journey and as you honor God with your lives... and for that sweet boy to be the newest Martin one day! :-)
ReplyDeleteLove you all!
I am soooooo happy for you and Dwight! That is awesome and I will definitely be praying for you during this next phase. What a cute little boy and he will definitely be loved and blessed as a Martin!!!
ReplyDeleteDear Sweet Mr. Dwight & SWEET Mrs. Tandy,
ReplyDelete1st off Hello from the United States! This is your "Sweet & Oh, so Darling Pal,Randee!" I tell ya what, My Family and I really miss ya'll so very much. We think about you , Pray for ya'll all the time. There really isn't a day that goes by that you guys and gal arn't on our minds. We love you. Tandy , I really do MISS my "Jonas Brother's Concert Buddy!" Everytime I see them on T.V. or a Magazine or the internet, I think of seeing them in Dallas with you, In the HOTT TEXAS HEAT!! LOL! Yes , that was a great show. Anyway, I also wanted to come by and Congratulate you and Mr. Dwight on Fostering such a Cutie Pie!"Welcome Jonathan" into the Martin Family. Love , Randee
Aw!! SO Adorable!!!! I think of him so often!!!
ReplyDeleteElizabeth Stewart